Printer Friendly Version - Branford RTM Goes Red for Women's Heart Health in February

On Wed. Feb. 12, members of Branford's Representative Town Meeting (RTM) together with First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, Selectman Raymond Dunbar and Town Clerk Lisa Arpin represented raising awareness for Women's Heart Health by adding red to their meeting attire.Pam Johnson/The Sound

On Wed. Feb. 12, members of Branford's Representative Town Meeting (RTM) and ex-officio members in attendance First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove, Selectman Raymond Dunbar and Town Clerk Lisa Arpin represented raising awareness for Women's Heart Health by adding red to their meeting attire.

The RTM's representation of red was the latest among Branford's month-long show of support for American Heart Association (AHA), to help raise awareness and fund critical research to fight heart disease, the number one killer of women. February is national Heart Disease Awareness month.

Other efforts underway include Branford's Paper Hearts fundraising drive, which is taking place throughout the month of February at Town Hall, James Blackstone Memorial Library, Branford Fire Department, Branford Police Department, Branford Recreation Department and Canoe Brook Senior Center (Branford Community House). Visitors donating a dollar will have their paper heart added to displays which are growing at each building.

Branford is also lighting up in red nightly at Town Hall, the Blackstone Library, Branford Police Department, Branford Fire Department and the Branford Board of Education office (1111 Main Street) throughout February. In other shows of support, a red Valentine heart display on the town green is lit nightly, and "Go Red" decorated windows have taken over at local businesses.

Also of note, as part of AHA's "Go Red for Women Day" on Friday, Feb. 7, Town employees and officials dressed-down/dressed-red as a fundraiser during office hours. That night, supporters came out to attend a "Dinner and Red Dress Fashion Show" organized by Branford's "Go Red for Women" committee (Branford merchant Sally Attianese of Merle Norman Cosmetics; Branford's Executive Assistant to the First Selectman Trista Milici, a heart attack survivor; and Maggie Fitter, Development Director of AHA's Heart Walk). Diners dressed in red came out to enjoy an evening at Season's (East Haven) and a fashion show featuring 10 local women, all impacted by heart disease, modeling fashions from A's Unique Boutique of Guilford.